Get to this tribal spot in Southern Orissa to not just enjoy the scenic views and relax but to understand what lopsided 'development' is about ... the region sits on bauxite reserves that corporates, Indian and foreign, have been eyeing for long ... this means that they can, with help from the state govt. and under an archaic Land Acquisition Act, displace whole villages and communities out of here as tribals rarely have land records even though they have lived here for generations ... offering a pittance in return as 'compensation' and no place to go, and destroying entire livelihoods, lifestyles and lives in one sweep, to mine and export aluminium... of course, there are NGOs (like Agragamee, for instance) that are trying to help the tribals with innovative livelihood, education, empowerment and natural resource management options ... but it is unlikely they can resist the juggernaut of corporate might for long ... if you do come, be careful of mosquitoes, take anti-malarial tablets beforehand.. for this is an endemic malaria region ...
